Pity the lowly public toilet, a redolent reminder of the failure of the best minds in urban planning to address the most fundamental of daily necessities.

Millions have been invested in the facilities for collective relief. Often, they have become targets for graffiti, trash-can fires, furtive needle activity, commercial lovemaking, emergency baths, laundries for the homeless, and repositories of castoff diapers.

Go to any city in America and ask whether it has fixed the public toilet problem, and most any city in America will hold its nose.

Once a year a brave group of racers convene on the daunting slopes of Mt. Tabor to test their metal to their mettle. These pages are dedicated to all those who have spilled their blood, or even worse, spilled their beer. We thank our beloved volcano for allowing us to tickle her spine.”

“Flexing Portland’s creative muscle since 1997”

The roster features 42 teams, divided into two categories: art, and science.

Racing starts at at 10 a.m., and should complete around 4 p.m. Watch from one of the designated viewing areas (see map – pdf). There are no vendors, so pack a picnic – beer and wine are allowed but no hard alcohol. Pets must be on leashes.

The after party takes place at 6pm at the Tonic Lounge (3100 NE Sandy). Awards will be handed out at 8pm, and at 9pm the music starts. Visit SoapboxRacer.com for more details, including FAQs, how you can volunteer, and galleries of past events and winners.

The fifth Portland Loo, located at NW Couch and 8th, will be debuted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 1pm. Commissioner Randy Leonard, a contingent of Emerson School children and faculty, and project staff will be on hand to celebrate the First Flush.

The new Portland Loo location was chosen to accommodate the needs in this high foot-traffic area of town for tourists and locals visiting Powell’s Books, and conveniently located between the MAX/bus lines and the streetcar. This Loo also replaces a problem-plagued bathroom that was recently closed at SW Ankeny and 8th Avenue. This particular installation was accomplished in collaboration with the Portland Parks and Recreation, the Portland Bureau of Transportation and The Emerson School.

Each Portland Loo includes artwork on the door, most of them local photography. Yet, the Couch Loo is adorned with vibrant drawings of flowers by the students at Emerson…it is really quite beautiful.

At the last city council meeting presided over by Portland Mayor Tom Potter, a resolution was passed declaring Voodoo Doughnut‘s Portland Creme the official doughnut of the city (The Oregonian, 25 December 2008).